Prince Lasha Quintet

By late 1962, when Prince Lasha and Sonny Simmons recorded The Cry!, Ornette Coleman's success had opened listeners' ears to free jazz. John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy further paved the way for acceptance of music moving away from the traditional moorings of jazz improvisation. It would be a mistake, however, to assume that Lasha and Simmons were emulating Coleman. Lasha was a childhood friend of Coleman's in Texas and the two played together for years, trading ideas and influencing on… MORE